Lincecum at home throwing Petco no-no

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Tim Lincecum pitches in the ninth inning of his no hitter over the San Diego Padres in a baseball game in San Diego, Saturday, July 13, 2013. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)
— AP

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Tim Lincecum pitches in the ninth inning of his no hitter over the San Diego Padres in a baseball game in San Diego, Saturday, July 13, 2013. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)
/ AP

Then, against a largely orange-and-black backdrop, he reminded the majors that, at 29, he still has plenty of baseball left.

Lincecum, coincidentally the losing pitcher in Homer Bailey's June 2 no-hitter, ended up with what may go down as the most memorable pitching feat of the season. His 148 pitches, which smashed his previous career high of 138, were one shy of the most in any no-no (Edwin Jackson) in the last quarter century. He induced 29 swings and misses, tied with Randy Johnson for the most in a no-hitter since 2000.

Lincecum's fastball, down several ticks from earlier in his career, worked in stifling harmony with his split-change and curveball.

"He threw more 12-6 curves," said Padres manager Bud Black, "than we've seen in a long time."

The crowd, meanwhile, was the loudest heard at Petco Park in a long time.

"It's one of the greatest feelings and greatest things to be a part of," said Giants right fielder Hunter Pence, who saved the no-hitter with a diving catch of Alexi Amarista's sinking liner in the eighth. "It's really special."